Berbatov insists he wants Tottenham stay

The Bulgaria striker's future has been the subject of intense speculation in recent days amid rumours he is unsettled at struggling Spurs and is angling for a January move to Manchester United.

But the 26-year-old, currently preparing for the UEFA Cup tie at Hapoel Tel Aviv, told his club's official website: "The fans love the club and they have been behind me ever since my first game. I appreciate them the most and I want to tell them that I am not going anywhere.

"There has been a lot of stuff written about me leaving.

"I haven't said anything until now, but they are now involving my family and I cannot allow that. When somebody is writing lies about my family, I must get involved.

"I am my own man, when I want to speak I will and I will tell you the truth no matter how hard it is. That is why I am talking now.

"I want to let everyone know that I am a Tottenham Hotspur player, I love the club and everyone at the club. I don't always smile so much, but that does not make me a bad person.

"I don't smile because we are near the bottom of the table and have not been playing well - I have not been playing well either.

"The worst thing is when someone starts writing lies and when people see that they start to believe it. That really is the worst thing.

"I just want to say that I am here, I am happy here and I will help the club in any way I can."

Berbatov, who has two-and-a-half years left on the contract he signed when he joined Spurs in the summer of 2006, claims the transfer rumours have affected his game.

After a sensational debut season in which he scored 23 goals, he has managed to net only twice this term.

He said: "I have a contract and I will give my best. For now, it is not going so well for me because all the writing in the papers has been messing with my head and I lost my concentration.

"I don't want to see my name in the papers anymore - I just want to play football and enjoy myself.

"When I see things in the paper with somebody telling lies about my father, how can I be calm? I am disappointed and I don't understand how somebody can write something like that - it is a lie.